An hour and a half along a wide, gently falling path from the Männlichen ridge to Kleine Scheidegg, with the north face of the Eiger growing in front of you at every step and the Mönch and Jungfrau lined up beside it. The easiest great view in the Alps.
The Männlichen is the long grassy ridge between the Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald valleys, and the path along its southern flank is the classic introduction to the Jungfrau region.
Lifts reach the ridge from both sides: a gondola from Grindelwald Terminal and a cable car from Wengen. From the top station a ten-minute climb leads to the Männlichen summit and its crown-shaped viewing platform, the Royal Walk, for a 360-degree view over both valleys. Then the trail drops gently south along the slope above Grindelwald, through meadow and past the Tschuggen and Lauberhorn, to the railway junction of Kleine Scheidegg at the foot of the Eiger.
It is wide, well graded and mostly downhill, safe for children and pushchairs, and busy by midday in high summer. Its genius is direction: walking south, the Eiger's 1,800-metre north face fills more of the sky with every bend, until at Kleine Scheidegg you are standing directly under it.
Signed "Kleine Scheidegg" from the Männlichen top station. Allow two hours with stops.
Approximate profile.
Before setting off, climb the zigzag path north to the Männlichen summit, about 20 minutes there and back, for the crown platform and the view down into both valleys, Lauterbrunnen to the west and Grindelwald to the east, with Lake Thun on the horizon.
Back at the station, the trail heads south, dropping gently across open meadow below the Tschuggen's slopes. Below lies the Grindelwald valley; ahead, the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau in a single row. Marmot colonies line this stretch; listen for their whistles.
The path curves round the shoulder of the Lauberhorn, famous for its World Cup downhill on the Wengen side, and the north face of the Eiger now dominates the view, with the Eiger glacier and the Mönch to its right. A mountain restaurant near the end serves drinks with the panorama.
The trail ends at Kleine Scheidegg, the pass and railway junction where the cog trains from Grindelwald and Wengen meet and the Jungfraubahn begins its climb through the Eiger to the Jungfraujoch. Hotels, terraces, and the north face directly above you.
From Grindelwald, take the Männlichen gondola from Grindelwald Terminal, next to the Eiger Express. From the Lauterbrunnen side, take the cable car from Wengen. Both are covered by the Jungfrau Travel Pass and discounted with other passes.
From Kleine Scheidegg, cog trains run down to Grindelwald and to Wengen and Lauterbrunnen, making an easy loop from either valley. Or walk on to Eigergletscher for the Eiger Trail.
Under 1,800 metres of rock and ice, from Eigergletscher to Alpiglen.
The old path up through the meadows under the Jungfrau.
Fifty minutes from the gondola to a mirror under the Faulhorn.
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The great ridge walk over the Faulhorn above Lake Brienz.
The Northface Trail and the old mule path down to the valley.
The turquoise lake under the Blüemlisalp, and the Heuberg view.
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